BATES SCHOLARSHIP | Family pushes Meech in sports and academics

Monday

SMITHVILLE — Sarah Meech was almost destined to excel as both a student and athlete during her school years.

Her parents, Scott Meech and Lorah Meech, are both educators — Scott at Smithville High School and Lorah at the Medina Career Center. They also both played basketball at The College of Wooster.

So it’s no surprise Meech has been selected as one of the eight finalists for the Roy S. Bates Foundation Player of the Year Award.

The eight finalists for the award, which is a component of the Wayne County Community Foundation, will each receive a one-time $2,500 scholarship from the Bates Foundation. Finalists are selected based on their character, academics and athletic accomplishments.

During her four years at Smithville, Meech has stood out in more way than one.

On the basketball court, she was the Smithies’ top player as a senior during the 2019-20 season, averaging 13 points and 7.2 rebounds. While capable of scoring from wherever, the 5-foot-10 Meech did most of her damage inside. Smithville also enjoyed its best season in a while, going 16-8 and reaching the district semifinals for the first time since 2014.

Reaching that stage and playing in the district round at Wooster High School was the highlight of Meech’s career in her mind.

"It was the first time we’d made it since I’d been in high school, so it was really exciting to make it that far," Meech said.

Meech also played soccer all four years of high school.

Basketball has always been her favorite though and she got plenty of help from family. Her parents have helped her learn the game, including coaching her growing up. They helped not only teach Meech the game, but helped her fall in love with it.

"Ever since ... I don’t even know, right when I was born, I guess, basketball always been a huge part of my family," Meech said. "Both my parents played in college so they’ve always pushed us to play and do our best. They’ve taught us a lot."

Playing against siblings has helped too. Her brother Luke just finished his sophomore season as a standout player on the boys basketball team.

"We’re always in the gym playing one-on-one," Meech said. "We’re still outside playing one-on-one all the time, which has helped me."

Growing up with two brothers within five years of age of her instilled a rare level of competitiveness in Meech too.

"(I’m mad if I lose) rock, paper, scissors," Meech said. "I just can’t stand losing. Any board game or anything."

Meech’s life is about much more than sports though. She already has her sights focused on a career in law after going through high school recording straight A’s. She’ll attend the University of Mount Union in the fall.

Why law?

"Everything about it excites me — helping out other people," Meech said.

During her time at Smithville, her favorite teacher was Wendy Brenaman, one of her science teachers.

"She was always talking to me about other things going on in my life, not just school," Meech said. "She was always someone I could talk to and joke around with."

While Meech and the rest of the seniors around the United States won’t get the normal high school send-off, she’ll graduate near the top of her class — Meech was fourth in an 86-person class at the time she applied for the Bates Scholarship — accumulating a 4.0 GPA at Smithville.

"I’m looking forward to if we’re able to do anything with my senior class, whether it’s just a picnic or if we go somewhere together," Meech said. "I don’t know if it’ll happen, but just to see them all again — that’d be really nice."

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in a series of eight articles on the finalists for the Roy S. Bates Foundation Player of the Year Award. Meech’s hard work in sports and the classroom enabled her to be named one of eight finalists for the Roy Bates Foundation Player of the Year Award, which is a component of the Wayne County Community Foundation.Finalists are selected based on character, academics and athletic accomplishments and each honoree will receive a one-time, $2,500 scholarship

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